Antiparasitic Drugs

Many different infections with protozoan and helminthic parasites are common global health problems. Several protozoa are responsible for opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS. The newly developed drug, albendazole, has a strong activity against many nematode and cestode parasites. In the case of echinococcosis, it reduces the viability of protoscolices and cysts. Its hepatic metabolite, albendazole sulfoxide, is active against the larval cestodes. In the case of neurocysticercosis, administration of either the standard treatment, praziquantel, or the newly developed drug, albendazole, reduces or eliminates tapeworm cysts in 80-90% of patients. Patients with numerous cysts and those in whom neurologic symptoms or intracranial hypertension develops after therapy against cysticerci should receive adjunctive therapy with dexamethasone. Mass chemotherapy with single doses of…